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What agencies are helping to save gorillas in Africa? Gorilla conservation in Africa remains one of the most challenging tasks and requires a collective effort. Each of us has a role to play right from policy makers to consumers to ensure these endangered species are well-conserved and protected from factors threatening their survival in their natural habitat.

There are only 4 sub-species of gorillas which all require keen care to ensure they are sustainably conserved from poaching, illegal trade of their products and keep them healthier. They include the Western Lowland gorillas, the Cross River gorillas; Mountain gorillas only living in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo with fewer than 1063 individual still existing on earth today and the Eastern Lowland gorillas. These are all the most amazing primates in the world. Presently, there are various gorilla conservation agencies in Africa helping save these species in the wild and they include among others;

  • Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI)
  • Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF)
  • International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)
  • Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH)
  • Gorilla Doctors
  • The Gorilla Organization
  • Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)
  • Rwanda Development Board (RDB)

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI)

The DFGFI was an initiative of Dian Fossey who tirelessly committed herself in gorilla conservation and protection in Africa. It was founded in 1978 and mainly conducts research on gorillas and their threatened ecosystems, educating conservationists, training local communities and many more. In the same spirit, it is possible for you to have your individual support towards gorilla conservation by donating to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International to help them continue with the daily protection and study of the endangered mountain gorillas plus community initiatives which support the same course. You can get in touch with DFGFI through http://gorillafund.org.

Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF)

The MGCF is solely committed to conserve and protect the most endangered mountain gorillas in Africa, their habitat and works together with the local residents adjacent the gorilla parks. Since 1983 when Dian Fossey requested some assistance, the MGCF has been playing a significant role in saving these rare apes in their natural habitat.

The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)

IGCP was founded in 1991 as a coalition programme comprising of Conservation International, Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The partnership as well combines several protected area authorities from 3 states where IGCP works that is Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board and the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN).

The main goal of International Gorilla Conservation Programme is ensuring the conservation of mountain gorillas and their regional afro-montane forest habitat in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Gorilla Doctors (Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project)

The Gorilla Doctors or the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is committed to saving mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas through veterinary medicine, science and a One Health Approach. They offer hands-on medical care to the ill and injured gorillas in gorilla parks in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. They can be reached through info@gorlladoctors.org, www.gorilladoctors.org.

The Gorilla Organization (TGO)

TGO is dedicated to saving gorillas in their natural habitat and works internationally by financing small grass-roots initiatives, run by local African partners which deal with the actual threats to long term survival of gorillas in the wild. It focuses on conservation, research, education and development in Uganda, Rwanda, Gabon, DRC and Cameroon. You can reach them through info@gorillas.org, http://www.gorillas.org.

Rwanda Development Board (RDB)

RDB was founded to bring together all the government agencies in charge for the whole investor experience under one roof. This includes agencies in charge business registration, environmental clearances, privatization, investment promotion and specialist agencies. It manages the 4 national parks in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park) and revenue collection from park fees is shared with local communities. The Rwanda Development Board can be reached through info@rdb.rw

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)

UWA is a semi-autonomous government organ whose role is mainly to conserve and sustainably manage wildlife and the protected areas of Uganda in partnership with adjacent communities and other stakeholders for the benefit of the people of Uganda and world at large. It was founded in 1996 after merging Uganda National Parks and the Game Department. The agency manages 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves, 5 community wildlife areas and 7 wildlife sanctuaries. It ensures protection of rare, endangered and endemic species.

Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH)

This was founded in 2003 mainly to promote biodiversity conservation by enabling people, wildlife and livestock to co-exist by enhancing their quality of life in and around protected areas in Africa. CTPH focuses on mountain gorilla protection plus other wildlife species and presently has many projects in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and Virunga National Park in DRC.

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